TAMPA — Robinson Cano admitted he hasn’t been able to build a moat around his mind to keep his contract situation out.

One day after GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees made a “significant” offer to Scott Boras, Cano’s agent, Cano refused to discuss details of the opening salvo in what could be a long and intense negotiations between the Yankees and their best player.

And while explaining he didn’t want any distractions, Cano admitted it’s difficult to avoid. Especially, when there was a crowd of reporters at his locker hours before Friday’s 10-5 loss to the Phillies at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

Asked if it was hard to keep the issue, which will linger all season long because Cano is likely headed for free agency after it ends, out of his thoughts, the All-Star second baseman admitted it was.

“It’s never going to out of your head. That’s all I can say,” Cano said.

As he said when reporting to camp, Cano’s focus is on the field.

“I just want to play baseball, Scott and the Yankees are doing that,” Cano said. “I want to focus on playing baseball. I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to be a distraction. I want to play and help the team win a championship.”

Asked if Boras told him what the offer, made before spring training started, was Cano deflected the question.

“I don’t want to go farther than what I said,” Cano explained. “I want to focus on baseball.”

“I think it’s fairly normal when a guy is a free agent to think about the contract,” manager Joe Girardi said. “I think Robby will block it out.”

Cashman says Cano letting the contract move into his head doesn’t worry him.

“It’s not going to change whether you are or you are not (worried) doesn’t change anything,” Cashman said.”There is nothing you can do about it.”

Cashman said the Yankees made a significant offer to Boras but refused to divulge what the terms were. Boras also didn’t go into details.

“I am not going to talk about how Cashman characterizes things,” Boras said Thursday. “We agreed to listen and talk to them. We want Robinson to play. We will continue our talks.”

It’s not out of reason to expect a concept discussed around seven years for $172 million. At an average of $24.6 million that would top CC Sabathia’s $24.4 per year average and be the highest ever for a second baseman.

Of course, that might not be enough for Boras who can argue Cano produces like a corner infielder such as Alex Rodriguez (10 years; $275 million), Albert Pujols(10/$240), Prince Fielder (9/$214) and Joey Votto (10/$225).

A career .308 hitter, Cano batted .313 with 33 homers and 94 RBIs last year before going cold in the postseason.

Cano is in the final leg of an original four-year deal worth $30 million that had club option years for 2012 ($14 million) and 2013 ($15 million).